Adjustable Basketball Device

ABSTRACT

An adjustable basketball device includes a support, a backboard coupled to the support, a mounting structure coupled to the backboard, an adjustment mechanism movably coupled to the mounting structure, and an adjustable rim supported by the mounting structure and engaged with the adjustment mechanism. The adjustable rim is adjustable between a first configuration in which the rim defines an opening with a first diameter, and a second configuration in which the opening of the rim defines an opening with a second diameter different than the first diameter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority under 35 U.S.C.119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/308,386, entitled“Adjustable Basketball Device,” filed Feb. 26, 2010, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a basketball device, and in particular,a basketball device having an adjustable rim.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various basketball devices are known in the art. Conventional basketballdevices include a rim mounted to a backboard, which defines an openingthat has a fixed diameter. It would be desirable to provide a basketballdevice having an adjustable diameter rim, so that the skill levelrequired to ‘make a basket’ may be selectively adjusted. It would alsobe desirable to provide a basketball device that is suitable for use bysmall children.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adjustable basketball assembly. Theassembly includes a support, a backboard coupled to the support, amounting structure coupled to the backboard and an adjustment mechanismmovably coupled to the mounting structure. In addition, an adjustablerim is supported by the mounting structure and engaged with theadjustment mechanism. The adjustable rim includes a body portion with afirst end portion and a second end portion. Each of the first endportion and the second end portion are inserted into the mountingstructure and engaged with the adjustment mechanism. The adjustable rimis adjustable between a first configuration in which the rim defines anopening with a first diameter, and a second configuration in which theopening of the rim has a second diameter different than the firstdiameter.

In one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes a knob that isrotatably supported by the mounting structure. The knob extendsoutwardly from the mounting structure and includes a gripping areaconfigured to be gripped by the hand of a user.

In one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism includes an actuator with anengagement surface. The engagement surface is configured to engage thefirst end portion of the rim to move the first end portion relative tothe mounting structure. In some implementations, the actuator includes asubstantially cylindrical body. The engagement surface extends aroundthe cylindrical body and has a first projection and a second projection,at least one of the projections being engageable with the first endportion of the rim to move the first end portion. In some embodiments,an axis of rotation of the actuator is substantially aligned with alongitudinal axis of the support.

In one embodiment, the mounting structure includes a first guidedefining an opening and a second guide defining an opening. The firstend portion of the rim is inserted into the opening of the first guide.The second end portion of the rim is inserted into the opening of thesecond guide. In some embodiments, each of the guides is pivotallymounted to the mounting structure.

The present invention is also directed to an adjustable rim for abasketball device including a mounting structure defining a firstopening and a second opening, a rim body having a first end and a secondend, and an adjustment mechanism. The first end of the rim body isinserted into the first opening of the mounting structure, and thesecond end of the rim body is inserted into the second opening of themounting structure. The rim body defines an opening having a diameter.The adjustment mechanism is coupled to the mounting structure, and isconfigured to move the rim body relative to the mounting structure tochange the diameter of the opening of the rim body.

In one embodiment, the adjustment mechanism engages the first end of therim body and the second end of the rim body. The adjustment mechanismmay include a rotatably mounted actuator that engages the first end ofthe rim body and the second end of the rim body. In one embodiment,rotation of the actuator in a first direction causes the diameter of therim body opening to decrease, and rotation of the actuator in a seconddirection opposite to the first direction causes the diameter of the rimbody opening to increase.

The present invention is also directed to an adjustable basketballdevice including a backboard, a mounting structure coupled to thebackboard, a rim body, and a rotatable actuator. The mounting structureincludes a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion. Therim body includes a first end portion and a second end portion, thefirst end portion being inserted into the first receiving portion andthe second end portion being inserted into the second receiving portion.The rotatable actuator includes an engagement portion that contacts thefirst end portion and the second end portion of the rim body. Theactuator is configured to move the first end portion and the second endportion relative to each other.

In one embodiment, the engagement portion includes at least twoprojections, and each of the end portions includes at least oneprojection. The at least two projections of the engagement portion areengaged with the at least one projection of each end portion of the rimduring adjustment of the rim body.

In one embodiment, the mounting structure includes a body and first andsecond receiving portions of the rim. The first receiving portionincludes a first guide member pivotally coupled to the body of themounting structure. The second receiving portion includes a second guidemember pivotally coupled to the body. In one implementation, each of theguide members defines an opening into which one of the end portions isinserted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of an adjustable basketballdevice according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of the adjustable basketballdevice of FIG. 1 as viewed from above;

FIG. 3 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of portions of theadjustable basketball device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a fragmentary bottom plan view of portions of theadjustable basketball device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of portions of theadjustable basketball device of FIG. 1, and showing the rim having afirst configuration;

FIG. 6 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of portions of theadjustable basketball device of FIG. 1, and showing the rim having asecond configuration;

FIG. 7 illustrates a fragmentary exploded perspective view of portionsof the adjustable basketball device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 illustrates a fragmentary exploded bottom plan view of portionsof the adjustable basketball device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 illustrates a front perspective view of an adjustable basketballdevice according to another embodiment of the present invention, andshowing a backboard in a first configuration;

FIG. 10 illustrates a front perspective view of the adjustablebasketball device of FIG. 9, and showing the backboard in a secondconfiguration; and

FIG. 11 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of portions of theadjustable basketball device of FIG. 9.

Like reference numerals have been used to identify like elementsthroughout this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that terms such as “left,” “right,” “top,”“bottom,” “front,” “rear,” “side,” “height,” “length,” “width,” “upper,”“lower,” “interior,” “exterior,” “inner,” “outer” and the like as may beused herein, merely describe points or portions of reference and do notlimit the present invention to any particular orientation orconfiguration. Further, terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc.,merely identify one of a number of portions, components and/or points ofreference as disclosed herein, and do not limit the present invention toany particular configuration or orientation.

An adjustable basketball device D1 according to an embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The device D1includes a support 100, a backboard 200 coupled to the support 100, amounting structure 300 coupled to the backboard 200, an adjustmentmechanism 400 (described in detail below) movably coupled to themounting structure 300, and an adjustable rim 500 supported by themounting structure 300 and engaged with the adjustment mechanism 400.

The support 100 includes a base 102 and a post 104 extending upwardlytherefrom. The base 102 includes a bottom surface 106 configured forengaging a support surface S and a top surface 108. The post 104includes an end portion 110 coupled to the top surface 108 of the base102 and an opposite end portion 112 coupled to the backboard 200. In oneembodiment, the post 104 includes two or more sections movably coupledtogether to allow for adjustment of the height of the backboard 200relative to the base 102. For example, the post 104 may include two ormore telescopically connected sections that extend and retract relativeto each other to allow for height adjustment.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 the mounting structure 300 includes a body302 having a central portion 304, and opposing end portions 306, 308. Aguide or receiving portion 310 is coupled to end portion 306 and definesan opening 312. Another guide or receiving portion 314 is coupled to endportion 308 and defines another opening 316. In one embodiment,receiving portion 310 is pivotally coupled to the end portion 306 of thebody 302, and rotatable about an axis A1 so that the opening 312 ismovable toward along an arcuate path toward and away from the plane onwhich the backboard 200 lies. Similarly, receiving portion 314 may bepivotally mounted to the end portion 308 of the body 302, and rotatableabout an axis A2 and along an arcuate path toward and away from theplane on which the backboard 200 lies.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the adjustable rim 500 includes a bodyportion 502, and opposing end portions 504, 506. End portion 504 isreceived in opening 312 of receiving portion 310 and extends inwardlytoward the central portion 304 of the body 302. End portion 506 isreceived in opening 316 of receiving portion 314 and also extendsinwardly toward the central portion 304. The rim 500 defines an opening508 through which an object may pass, such as a basketball B (shown inFIG. 1). A net 509 is coupled to the body portion 502 of the rim 500.Distal sections of the end portions 504, 506 engage the adjustmentmechanism 400 and are movable relative thereto. The rim 500 isadjustable between a first configuration C1 in which the body portion502 of the rim 500 defines an opening 508 a with a first diameter L1,shown in FIG. 5, and a second configuration C2 in which the opening 508b of the body portion 502 of the rim 500 has a second diameter L2different than the first diameter L1, shown in FIG. 6.

The adjustment mechanism 400 is coupled to the mounting structure 300,and configured to move the end portions 504, 506 of the rim 500 relativeto the mounting structure 300 to change the diameter of the opening 508of the body 502 of the rim 500, for example between opening 508 a withdiameter L1 and opening 508 b with diameter L2.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the adjustment mechanism 400 includes anactuator 402 disposed within a cavity 318 defined by the body 302 of themounting structure 300. The actuator 402 may be connected to and axiallyaligned with an axle 404. The axle 404 is rotatably mounted to the body302 of the mounting structure 300, so that the actuator 402 is rotatablerelative to the body 302.

The actuator 402 includes an engagement surface 406 disposed between andengaging end portion 504 and end portion 506 of the rim 500. In oneembodiment, the actuator 402 includes a substantially cylindrical body408. The engagement surface 406 extends around the body 408 and includesa plurality of outwardly extending projections 410. The end portion 504of the rim 500 includes a plurality of projections 510 extendingoutwardly from a surface 512 of the end portion 504 adjacent and facingthe actuator 402. Similarly, the end portion 506 of the rim 500 includesa plurality of projections 514 extending outwardly from a surface 516 ofthe end portion 506 adjacent and facing the actuator 402.

At least one of the projections 410 of the engagement surface 406 of theactuator 402 is received between and intermeshes with correspondinglyaligned projections 510 on the end portion 504 of the rim 500, whileanother one of the projections 410 of the engagement surface 406 isreceived between and intermeshes with correspondingly alignedprojections 514 on the end portion 506 of the rim 500. Alternatively,two projections 410 of the engagement surface 406 intermesh with acorrespondingly aligned one of the projections 510 on the end portion504, while another two projections 410 of the engagement surface 406intermesh with another correspondingly aligned one of the projections514 on the end portion 506 of the rim 500.

Thus, one or more of the projections 410 of the engagement surface 406engage one or more correspondingly aligned projections 510 of the endportion 504 while another one or more projections 410 of the engagementsurface 406 engage one or more correspondingly aligned projections 514of the end portion 506 during adjustment of the diameter of the opening508 of the body 502 of the rim 500.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 7, upon rotation of the actuator 402 about anaxis A3 and in a direction R1, the first end portion 504 moves relativeto the mounting structure 300 in a direction D1, and the second endportion 506 moves relative to the mounting structure 300 in a directionD2. In one embodiment, direction D1 is opposite direction D2. Uponrotation of the actuator 402 about axis A3 in a direction R2 oppositedirection R1, the first end portion 504 moves relative to the mountingstructure 300 in direction D2, and the second end portion 506 movesrelative to the mounting structure 300 in direction D1.

In one embodiment, the axis of rotation A3 of the actuator 402 issubstantially aligned with and/or parallel to a longitudinal axis of thepost 104 of the support 100. Alternatively or in addition, the axis ofrotation A3 may be substantially parallel to the axis of rotation A1 ofthe receiving portion 310 and/or the axis of rotation A2 of thereceiving portion 314.

Rotation of the actuator 402 about axis A3 in direction R1 causes adistal end 504 a of end portion 504 and a distal end 506 a of endportion 506 to simultaneously move away from the actuator 402. In thisway, rotation of the actuator 402 about axis A3 in direction R1 causesthe diameter of the opening 508 of the body 502 of the rim 500 todecrease. Conversely, rotation of the actuator 402 about axis A3 indirection R2 causes the distal end 504 a of end portion 504 and thedistal end 506 a of end portion 506 to simultaneously move toward theactuator 402, thereby causing the diameter of the opening 508 of thebody 502 of the rim 500 to increase.

In one embodiment, the mounting structure 300 includes guide walls 320,322 disposed within the cavity 318 of the body 302 and configured tomaintain the end portions 504, 506 of the rim 500 against the actuator402, so that the projections 410 of the engagement surface 406 aremaintained in engagement with the projections 510 of end portion 504 aswell as with projections 514 of end portion 506. Additional guidesurfaces may be provided within the cavity 318 of the body 302. Further,one or more guide surfaces 324 may be disposed within a cavity 326defined by the receiving portion 310, and/or one or more guide surfaces328 may be disposed within a cavity 330 defined by the receiving portion314.

In one embodiment, a retaining ring 412 is coupled to an end 414 of theaxle 404, as shown in FIG. 7. The retaining ring 412 has a diameter L3,which is greater than a spacing distance L4 of aligned sections of theend portions 504, 506 adjacent the actuator 402. The retaining ring 412ensures that the end portions 504, 506 do not slide downwardly and/oraway from the actuator 402. In this way, the projections 510 of endportion 504 and the projections 514 of end portion 506 remain in meshedengagement with the projections 410 of the engagement surface 406.Further, the guide walls 320, 322 and guide surfaces 324, 328 ensurethat the end portions 504, 506 of the rim 500 are maintained in acontrolled position and in engagement with the actuator 402.

Referring again to FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the adjustment mechanism 400 mayinclude a knob 416 rotatably supported by an exterior surface 332 of themounting structure 300. The knob 416 is coupled to the actuator 402, forexample via the axle 404, so that rotation of the knob 416 in a selecteddirection R1 or R2 causes rotation of the actuator 402 in acorresponding direction R1 or R2. The knob 416 extends outwardly fromthe exterior surface 332 of the mounting structure 300, and may includea gripping area configured to be gripped by a user. For example, theknob 416 may include a plurality of circumferentially spaced andoutwardly extending knurls easily grippable by the user.

An adjustable basketball device D2 according to another embodiment ofthe present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The device D2includes a support 600, a backboard 700 coupled to the support 600, amounting structure 800 coupled to the backboard 700, an adjustmentmechanism coupled to the mounting structure 800, and an adjustable rim1000 supported by the mounting structure 800 and engaged with theadjustment mechanism.

The support 600 includes a base 602 and a post 604 coupled thereto andextending upwardly therefrom. The post 604 may include two or moresections movably coupled together to allow for adjustment of the heightof the backboard 700 relative to the base 602, such as described above.

The backboard 700 may include a central portion 702 having opposingsides 704, 706. A side section 708 is pivotally coupled to side 704, andanother side section 710 is pivotally coupled to side 706. Side section708 includes a planar front surface 712 and side section 710 includes aplanar front surface 714. Front surfaces 712, 714 of side sections 708,710 are movable between a position P1 substantially coplanar with afront surface 716 of central portion 702 (shown in FIG. 9), and anotherposition P2 angularly disposed relative to front surface 716 (shown inFIG. 10). The angled or inwardly disposed position P2 of side sections708, 710 increases the likelihood that a ball is deflected inwardly andtoward the rim 1000, thereby increasing the ease of ‘making a basket,’thereby enhancing enjoyment for younger players.

Referring to FIG. 11, the mounting structure 800 includes a side portion802 defining an opening 804. The adjustable rim 1000 includes a bodyportion 1002 and a distal end (not shown) received within the opening804. The body portion 1002 defines an opening 1003 through which a ballor other toy may pass. The body portion 1002 also includes a pluralityof apertures 1004. A section of the body portion 1002 is inserted intothe opening 804 so that one of the apertures 1004 is aligned with andengaged by the adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism mayinclude a rotatable actuator having an engagement surface, such as oneor more projections as described above, which are received in an alignedwith one of the apertures 1004. For example, as the actuator rotatesabout an axis A4 in direction R3, the projections on the actuator engagethe apertures 1004, drawing the body portion 1002 of the rim 1000inwardly, thereby decreasing the diameter of the opening 1003. As theactuator rotates about the axis A4 in an opposite direction R4, theprojections on the actuator engage the apertures 1004, and push the bodyportion 1002 of the rim 1000 outwardly, thereby increasing the diameterof the opening 1003.

Thus, similar to device D1, the adjustment mechanism of device D2 isconfigured to move an end of the rim 1000 relative to the mountingstructure 800 to change the diameter of the opening 1003 of the bodyportion 1002 of the rim 1000. The axis of rotation A4 of the actuator issubstantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the post 604 ofthe support 600.

The adjustment mechanism may include a knob 90° rotatably supported byan exteriorly disposed surface of the mounting structure 800, so thatrotation of the knob 900 in a selected direction R3 or R4 causesrotation of the actuator in a corresponding direction, therebyincreasing or decreasing the diameter of the opening 1003.

Although the disclosed inventions are illustrated and described hereinas embodied in one or more specific examples, it is nevertheless notintended to be limited to the details shown, since various modificationsand structural changes may be made therein without departing from thescope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents ofthe claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodimentsmay be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it isappropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in amanner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in thefollowing claims.

1. An adjustable basketball assembly, comprising: a support; a backboardcoupled to the support; a mounting structure coupled to the backboard;an adjustment mechanism movably coupled to the mounting structure; andan adjustable rim supported by the mounting structure and engaged withthe adjustment mechanism, the adjustable rim includes a body portionwith a first end portion and a second end portion, each of the first endportion and the second end portion being inserted into the mountingstructure and engaged with the adjustment mechanism, the adjustable rimbeing adjustable between a first configuration in which the rim definesan opening with a first diameter and a second configuration in which theopening of the rim has a second diameter different than the firstdiameter.
 2. The adjustable basketball assembly of claim 1, wherein theadjustment mechanism includes a knob that is rotatably supported by themounting structure.
 3. The adjustable basketball assembly of claim 2,wherein the knob extends outwardly from the mounting structure andincludes a gripping area configured to be gripped by a user.
 4. Theadjustable basketball assembly of claim 1, wherein the adjustmentmechanism includes an actuator with an engagement surface, theengagement surface being configured to engage the first end portion tomove the first end portion relative to the mounting structure.
 5. Theadjustable basketball assembly of claim 4, wherein the actuator includesa substantially cylindrical body, the engagement surface extends aroundthe body and has a first projection and a second projection, at leastone of the projections being engageable with the first end portion tomove the first end portion.
 6. The adjustable basketball assembly ofclaim 4, wherein an axis of rotation of the actuator is substantiallyaligned with a longitudinal axis of the support.
 7. The adjustablebasketball assembly of claim 1, wherein the mounting structure includesa first guide defining an opening and a second guide defining anopening, the first end portion of the rim being inserted into theopening of the first guide, and the second end portion of the rim beinginserted into the opening of the second guide.
 8. The adjustablebasketball assembly of claim 7, wherein each of the guides is pivotallymounted to the mounting structure.
 9. An adjustable rim for a basketballdevice, comprising a mounting structure defining a first opening and asecond opening; a rim body having a first end and a second end, thefirst end of the rim body being inserted into the first opening of themounting structure, and the second end of the rim body being insertedinto the second opening of the mounting structure, the rim body definingan opening having a diameter; and an adjustment mechanism coupled to themounting structure, the adjustment mechanism being configured to movethe rim body relative to the mounting structure to change the diameterof the opening of the rim body.
 10. The adjustable rim of claim 9,wherein the adjustment mechanism engages the first end of the rim bodyand the second end of the rim body.
 11. The adjustable rim of claim 9,wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a rotatably mounted actuator,the actuator being engaged with the first end of the rim body and thesecond end of the rim body.
 12. The adjustable rim of claim 11, whereinrotation of the actuator in a first direction causes the diameter of therim body opening to decrease, and rotation of the actuator in a seconddirection opposite to the first direction causes the diameter of the rimbody opening to increase.
 13. An adjustable basketball device,comprising: a backboard; a mounting structure coupled to the backboard,the mounting structure including a first receiving portion and a secondreceiving portion; a rim body including a first end portion and a secondend portion, the first end portion being inserted into the firstreceiving portion, and the second end portion being inserted into thesecond receiving portion; and a rotatable actuator engaged with thefirst end portion and the second end portion, the rotatable actuatorincluding an engagement portion, the engagement portion contacting thefirst end portion and the second end portion and configured to move thefirst end portion and the second end portion relative to each other. 14.The adjustable basketball device of claim 13, wherein the engagementportion includes at least two projections and each of the end portionsincludes at least one projection, the at least two projections of theengagement portion being engaged with the at least one projection ofeach end portion during adjustment of the rim body.
 15. The adjustablebasketball device of claim 13, wherein the mounting structure includes abody, the first receiving portion includes a first guide memberpivotally coupled to the body of the mounting structure, and the secondreceiving portion includes a second guide member pivotally coupled tothe body.
 16. The adjustable basketball device of claim 15, wherein eachof the guide members defines an opening into which one of the endportions is inserted.
 17. The adjustable basketball device of claim 13,wherein the rotatable actuator includes a knob.
 18. The adjustablebasketball device of claim 17, wherein the knob extends outwardly fromthe mounting structure and includes a gripping area configured to begripped by a user.
 19. The adjustable basketball device of claim 13,wherein the actuator includes a substantially cylindrical body, theengagement portion extends around the body and has a first projectionand a second projection, at least one of the projections beingengageable with the first end portion to move the first end portion. 20.The adjustable basketball device of claim 13, wherein an axis ofrotation of the actuator is substantially aligned with a longitudinalaxis of a support to which the backboard is coupled.